Chapter 3: Colored fire compositions, flares and torches

Blue fire composition #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. post by Pierre de Reuck <pierre@icon.co.za
Comments: Dangerous mixture,since it contains both a nitrate and a chlorate with a copper ammonium compound and also a combination of chlorate with sulfur.
Preparation:

Sulfur............................................15
Potassium sulphate................................15
Cupric ammonia sulphate...........................15
Potassium nitrate.................................27
Potassium chlorate................................28

Blue fire composition #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: 
Preparation:

Copper ammonium chloride..........................5
Potassium perchlorate.............................24
Stearin...........................................2
Asphaltum.........................................1

Blue fire composition #3
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................7
Copper(II)sulfide.................................2
Sulfur............................................4

Blue fire composition #4
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................1
Copper(II)oxide...................................1
Hg2Cl2............................................1
Charcoal..........................................1

Blue fire composition #5
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................12
Sulfur............................................4
Sb2S3.............................................2

Blue fire composition #6
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................7.5
Potassium chlorate................................14
Potassium sulfate.................................7
Sulfur............................................7

Blue fire composition #7
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................8
Copper sulfate....................................5
Shellac powder....................................3
Sulfur............................................7
Hg2Cl2............................................4

Red fire composition #1
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: Burns at a moderate rate with a nice deep red color.
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................66
Potassium chlorate................................25
Powdered shellac..................................9

Red fire composition #2
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: 
Preparation:

Strontium carbonate...............................16
Potassium chlorate................................72
Powdered shellac..................................12

Red fire composition #3
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: 
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................4
Potassium chlorate................................12
Strontium carbonate...............................3
Kauri powder......................................5

Red fire composition #4
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: 
Preparation: The vaseline/wood dust mixture is prepared by melting 6 parts vaseline and mixing in 8 parts wood dust.

Potassium perchlorate.............................9
Strontium nitrate.................................40
Sulfur............................................11
Colophonium.......................................1
Sugar.............................................1
Antimony..........................................1/2
Vaseline/Wood dust................................20

Red fire composition #5
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................2
Strontium nitrate.................................5
Charcoal..........................................1
Sulfur............................................1

Red fire composition #6
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................1
Calcium carbonate.................................11
Strontium nitrate.................................11
Sulfur............................................4
Charcoal..........................................1

Red fire composition #7
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................29
Strontium carbonate...............................6
Orange shellac powder.............................5

Red fire composition #8
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................4
Orange shellac powder.............................1

Red fire composition #9
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................4
Potassium chlorate................................13
Hg2Cl2............................................4
Sulfur............................................2.5
Shellac powder....................................1
Charcoal..........................................1

Green fire composition #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Barium nitrate....................................7
Potassium chlorate................................3
Sulfur............................................2

Green fire composition #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Barium nitrate....................................3
Potassium chlorate................................8
Sulfur............................................3

Green fire composition #3
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Barium chlorate...................................9
Orange shellac powder.............................1

Green fire composition #4
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Burns at a moderate rate with a greenish white flame. Not very convincing green.
Preparation:

Barium nitrate....................................3
Potassium chlorate................................4
Orange shellac powder.............................1

Green fire composition #5
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Barium nitrate....................................18
Potassium chlorate................................9
Sulfur............................................4.5
Shellac powder....................................1.5
Hg2Cl2............................................3
Charcoal..........................................1.5

White fire composition #1
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................24
Sulfur............................................7
Charcoal..........................................1

White fire composition #2
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................7
Sulfur............................................2
Powdered antimony.................................1

White fire composition #3
Source: "Mengen en Roeren"[6], page 223.
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium perchlorate.............................7
Barium nitrate....................................34
Sulfur............................................7
Powderd Aluminum..................................10

White fire composition #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................6
Sb2S3.............................................1
Sulfur............................................1

White fire composition #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................24
Charcoal..........................................1
Sulfur............................................1

Yellow fire composition #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: 
Preparation:

Potassium nitrate.................................4
Sulfur............................................1
Charcoal..........................................2
Sodium chloride...................................3

Yellow fire composition #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................5
Sodium oxalate....................................2
Potassium nitrate.................................1
Charcoal..........................................2
Sulfur............................................1

Yellow fire composition #3
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................9
Sodium oxalate....................................3
Sulfur............................................3
Shellac...........................................1.5

Yellow fire composition #4
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Potassium chlorate................................8
Sulfur............................................2
Sodium carbonate..................................3

Purple fire composition
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Magic With Chemistry"[7], chapter "colored fires"
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both sulfur and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Copper sulfate....................................1
Potassium chlorate................................1
Sulfur............................................1

Magnesium flare #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics. Composition from "Fireworks, Principles and Practice"[2]
Comments: 
Preparation: Magnesium is corroded by some nitrates when damp. It is common practice to coat the magnesium before use. about 4% linseed oil, or some potassium dichromate can be used for that purpose.

Barium nitrate....................................22.5
PVC...............................................13
Magnesium (grade 0)...............................35
Potassium perchlorate.............................22.5
Polyester.........................................5

Magnesium flare #2
Source: Kirk-Otthmer technical encyclopedia[8], chapter 'Explosives and Propellants'.
Comments: Heat of reaction: 6.134 kJ/g, Gas volume: 74 cm3/g, ignition temperature: 640°C, impact sensitivity test: 19% of TNT
Preparation:

Sodium nitrate....................................38
Magnesium.........................................50
Laminac...........................................5

Green torch #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: Note that calomel is a very toxic compound.
Preparation:

Barium chlorate...................................5
Barium nitrate....................................4
Shellac...........................................1
Calomel...........................................2

Green torch #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: 
Preparation:

Barium nitrate....................................5
potassium perchlorate.............................6
K.D. Gum..........................................2
Sulfur............................................3

Green torch #3
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: Dangerous mixture, since it contains both an ammonium compound and a chlorate.
Preparation:

Barium nitrate....................................40
Potassium chlorate ...............................1
K.D. Gum..........................................6
Ammonium chloride.................................1

Blue torch #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: Note that calomel and Paris green are both very toxic compounds.
Preparation:

Potassium perchlorate.............................5
Copper acetoarsenite (Paris Green)................2
Dextrin...........................................1
Calomel...........................................1

Blue torch #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: This mixture is incompatible with nitrates and chlorates due to the presence of a copper-ammonium compound.
Preparation: 'Sugar of milk' is lactose.

Potassium perchlorate.............................24
Copper ammonium sulfate...........................6
Sugar of milk.....................................2
Sulfur............................................9

Blue torch #3
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: This mixture is incompatible with nitrates and chlorates due to the presence of a copper-ammonium compound.
Preparation:

Potassium perchlorate.............................24
Copper ammonium chloride..........................6
Stearin...........................................2
Asphaltum.........................................1

Purple torch #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: Note that calomel is very toxic.
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................7
Potassium perchlorate.............................9
Copper(II)oxide...................................6
Calomel...........................................3
Sulfur............................................5

Amber torch
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: 
Preparation:

Strontium nitrate.................................36
Sodium oxalate....................................8
Shellac...........................................5
Sulfur............................................3
Potassium perchlorate.............................10

Aluminum torch
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: 
Preparation:

potassium perchlorate.............................13
Fine aluminum powder..............................6
Flake Aluminum....................................5
Dextrin or lycopodium.............................1

Red and aluminum torch #1
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: The composition is a modification of the 'Aluminum torch'. Suggested dimensions for the torch are 2.22 cm diameter and 45 cm length.
Preparation: Before ramming, this formula should be moistened with a solution of 1 part shellac in 16 parts alcohol and 1 part of this solution used to every 36 parts of composition. As this mixture is somewhat difficult to ignite it is necessary to scoop out a little from the top of the torch and replace it with a starting fire composition. Meal powder can be used for that purpose.

Strontium nitrate.................................35
Potassium perchlorate.............................7
Shellac...........................................4
Coarse flake Aluminum.............................4
Lycopodium........................................1

Red and aluminum torch #2
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: The composition is a modification of the 'Aluminum torch'. Suggested dimensions for the torch are 2.22cm diameter and 45cm length.
Preparation: Before ramming, this formula should be moistened with a solution of 1 part shellac in 16 parts alcohol and 1 part of this solution used to every 36 parts of composition. As this mixture is somewhat difficult to ignite it is necessary to scoop out a little from the top of the torch and replace it with a starting fire composition. Meal powder can be used for that purpose.

Strontium nitrate.................................13
Sulfur............................................3
Mixed Aluminum....................................3

Extra bright torch
Source: rec.pyrotechnics
Comments: According to the original text: "An aluminum torch of heretofore unheard of brilliance and giving an illumination, in the 2.54cm size, of what is said to be 100000 candlepower". Testing with paint grade aluminum revealed that it burns very bright indeed at a steady slow burnrate and with little residue. It is easily pressed in tubes.
Preparation: Rub the Vaseline into the barium nitrate. Mix the sulfur and the aluminum separately. Then mix it with the barium nitrate/vaseline mixture. A starting fire mixture is required for ignition. The 'starting fire #1' composition can be used for that purpose.

Barium nitrate....................................38
Mixed Aluminum....................................9
Sulfur............................................2
Vaseline..........................................1